Feeler mechanism for looms



Sept. 14, 1926. 1,600,000

0. C. HINSON ET AL FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed Nov. 17} 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 wwentoz Oaas Creme/"M77500. Llamas filo/he 3/7 e/iofi.

awe/l Chi/09213001147011 Q xyq Sept. 14 1926. 1,600,000

0. c. HINSON ET AL FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed Nov. 17. 1924 2 Sheds-Sheet 2 g anoenbo'z Odus CromerlY/nsan.

' James Blaine She/fan. Gil 707670 %ll/J0/l.

Patented Sept. 14, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ODUS CROMER HINSON, JAMES BLAINE SHELTON, AND COUNCIL CLAUDIUS DAWSON, OF CRAMERTON, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNORS TO CR AMERTON MILLS, INCOR- PORATED, OF

LINA.

CRAMERTON, NORTH CAROLINA, A CORPORATION OF NORTH CARO- FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Application filed November 17, 1924. Serial No. 750,304.

This invention relates to a feeler mechanism for looms for determining when all but a short predetermined length of yarn is removed from' a bobbin in the loom and for then actuating a change mechanism to re move the empty bobbin and replace it with a full one.

Heretofore mechanical stop motions have been used for detecting when the yarn is nearly exhausted from the bobbin and for thereupon actuating the change mechanism to replace the exhausted bobbin with a full one. These mechanical change mechanisms ordinarily leave from ten to forty yards of yarn on the bobbin at the time it is removed or replaced, depending on the fineness of adjustment of the feeler mechanism. Not infrequently, with the mechanical feeler mechanism, a bobbin which is half full or even entirely full of yarn may be thrown out, in case the mechanical feeler mechanism sticks or does not function normally. Inaddition, these mechanical feelers tend to roughen, "to some extent, the yarn, more especially when a silk yarn is used, which may frequently be damaged by a mechanical feeler mechanism. An object of our present invention is to provide a feeler mechanism which will permit the yarn to be run off from the bobbin until only sufiicient length is left to make a shuttle movement back and forth in case the I change mechanism should fail to operate.

Another object of the invention is to provide a feeler mechanism which will avoid the rou hening of the yarn by the movement of the eeler mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an electric feeler mechanism actuated on the closing of a circuit through a contact strip on the bobbin, contact with which is prevented by the yarn thereon until there is left only the minimum required in case a subsequent back and forth movement of the shuttle should be necessary.

With these and other objects inview, the invention comprises theapparatus described and set forth in the following specification and claims.

The various features of theinvention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

in which:

control mechanism embodying .a preferred form of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the apparatus taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly in section, of a contact feelor device and a bobbin forming a portion of the apparatus, theapparatus being shown in aposition in which insuflicient yarn has been removed to actuate the mechanism, and,

Fig. 4 1s a plan view of a port-ion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3', in a position in which sufficient yarn has been removed from ing surface on the bobbin, which is preferably in the form of a band or ferrule at thehead or base of the bobbin that a layer of yarn will remain between one of the contacts and the bridging surface, and-thus prevent contact and closing of the circuit, as long as a length of yarn greater than the desired minimum remains on the bobbin. Inasmuch as the actuation of the feeler mechanism does not depend on an accurate positioning of a mechanical element, this minimum of yarn may be gauged with exact ness and nicety, so that it may be reduced to the quantityjust suflicientior a subsequent back and forth movement of the shut the in case the apparatus does not change the bobbin. The closing of the actuating circuit nism.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the invention is illustrated as applied to a loom having a bobbin magazine, indicated diagrammatically at 10, and a shuttle box 12 carried on the lay of the loom to swing baeigwardly and forwardly to a position beneath the magazine as indicated in Fig. l and provided with an opening 13 in its forward wall through which the feeler mechanism may reach the bobbin when the box swings forwardly under the magazine. A shuttle 14 of suitable form is mounted in the shuttle box 12 and is provided in its forward side with an opening 16 positioned to align with the opening 13 and give access to a bobbin 18 in the shuttle. The end of the bobbin 18 from which the last length of yarn is to be unwound is provided or covered with a metallic band 20 adapted to lie in alignment with the openings 13 and 16 when the shuttle box is moved towards the feeler mechanism and to be contacted by, and bridge, a pair of contacts 22 and 24 mounted in a holding bracket 26 on the frame 28 of the loom in position to project through the openings 13 and 16 as the shuttle box is moved forwardly to a position beneath the magazine 10.

The contacts 22 and 24 are insulated from each other and are included in a changing.

these contacts remain insulated from each' other as long as either of them is separated from the metal band 20 by one or more strands of yarn but when both contacts contact with the band 20 the gap between the contacts is bridged and the change mechanism control circuit is closed.

iVhen the contacts 22 and 24 are thus bridged, current flows from any suitable source, indicated diagrammatically at 30, through a wire 32 to one contact 24 and from the other contact 22 through a wire 34 to a magnetic control device 36, for controlling the locking of the driving mechanism to the change operating mechanism, from which the current returns through a wire 38 to the source 30- The current may be drawn from any suitable source, but as the loom is frequently operated from a power circuit, it is preferably drawn from this source, through a suitable resistance or voltage reducing means where desired.

Any suitable actuating and change mechanism may be used in connection with the feeler apparatus. ment shown in the accompanying drawings, the actuating mechanism is driven from a shaft 40 through a cam 42 which .bears against one end of a lever 44 pivoted at 46 on the frame of the loom and carrying at its other end a frame 48 on which the electromagnetic control device 36 is mount- In'the form of embodi 52 when the, frame is in its uppermost position, at which position the bobbin is brought into contact with the contacts 22 and 24.

lVhen suflicient thread is removed from the bobbin to enable the band 20 to contact with and bridge the contacts 22 and 24 and complete the circuit through the control device 36 a bolt 62 on the frame 48 is actuated through an arm 63 by the electromagnet device 36 to slide into a notch 64 in' the rod 52, positioned to receive the bolt and thus lock the frame 48 to the rod 52 when the surface 58 abuts the collar 60. Thereupon, as the cam 42 rotates the bolt 62 is caught in the notch 64 and the rod 52 is drawn downwardly with the frame 48, thereby actuating the change mechanism.

As the closing of the circuit through the device .36 is only momentary, the bolt 62 is withdrawn from the notch 64 when the frame again reaches its upper position by the action of a spring 66 confined between the collar 49 on the frame 48 and a collar 68 mounted on the bolt 62. The frame is thereupon unlocked from the rod 52 and slides freely relative thereto until the device 36 is again operated.

Inasmuch as the actuation of the changing mechanism does not depend on an accurate adjustment and accurate positioning and movement of a mechanical part, and only a light contact between the band 20 and the ends of the contacts 22 and 24 is required, the contacts 22 and 24 are so constructed as to bear with slight, yielding, friction against the surface of the bobbin or of the yarn thereon regardless of the fullness of the bobbin.

For this purpose, the contacts are constructed of rods 70 and 71 slidabl mounted in pairs of insulating bushings 2 and 73 on the supporting bracket 26 and urged towards the bobbin by means of encircling springs 74 and 7 5 confined between the bushings 72 and shoulders 76 on the rods. As the bobbins, or the yarn thereon, press against the ends of the rods 70 and 71 the springs 74 and 75 are compressed insuring a uniform contact pressure at all positions. The ends of the rods 70 and 71 may also be provided with heads 78 having stems 80 extending into sockets 82 in the ends of the rods and pressed outwardly by means of springs 84 confine between the bottoms of the sockets and bottoms of the stems 80. The stems 80 may be retained in their sockets by means of transverse retaining pins 86 against which ledges 88 and 88 of the stems 80 are stopped.

Through the above invention a feeler apparatus 1s provided in which the yarn on the bobbin is only li htly touched by the feeler device so that t ere is no roughenin or injury of the yarn. The action of the feeler device is, moreover, so positive and certain that the length of thread remaining on the bobbin may be accurately governed.

As changes of construction could be made within the s'cope"'of our invention it is intended that all the matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying .drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

1. Apparatus of the type described which comprises, a bobbin having a metal surface, a pair of insulated contact members mounted to be contacted and bridged by said metal surface when exposed and brought thereag'ainst, a bobbin change mechanism having an actuating rod and anotch in said said notch, an electro-magnetic means for sliding said bolt into said notch to lock said actuating mechanism to said rod, and an electric circuit for said electro-magnetic means closed by the bridging of said contact members.

2. Apparatus of the type described which comprises, a bobbin change mechanism, a driving means therefor, a notched transmitting rod connected to drive said bobbin change mechanism, a driving sleeve driven from said driving means and slidably mounted on said transmitting rod, a bolt in said sleeve, electroma etic means for moving said bolt into said notch toj lo ck said driving sleeve to said transmitting rod, a bobbin having a metalliccollar, a pair of insulated contact rods movable to a position to contact with and be bridged vby said collar and an electric circuit including said contact rods and said electromagnetic means.

ODUS CROMER HINSON. JAMES B. SHELTON.

C. C. DAWSON. 

